Micah Parsons injury: Robert Griffin III suggests Green Bay Packers star sit out all of 2026 season

If anyone knows about the arduous task of recovering from ACL injuries, it’s Robert Griffin III. The former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick out of Baylor saw his once-promising NFL career derailed by multiple knee and lower body injuries. That included having his breakout rookie campaign cut short after tearing both the ACL and LCL in his right knee late in 2012.

Given that particular experience, and the knowledge of time, Griffin has been adament that both Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes should opt to sit out next season and return in 2027 after both suffered season-ending ACL tears in Week 15.

“The No. 1 advice I’d give to Micah Parsons and Patrick Mahomes right now is to not play next year. And it’s because of when they got hurt,” Griffin said Wednesday during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. “They both got hurt in December. You look at these injuries and we’ve seen guys come back in six months, eight months and nine months. And it’d be nine months if they were ready to go Week 1. But you don’t really feel like yourself until about 15 months after the injury, and some guys will even tell you it took me 24 months to truly feel like myself again.

“Don’t get me wrong, 80-percent of Micah Parsons is better than dang near every pass rusher in the NFL. 80-percent of Patrick Mahomes is better than almost every quarterback in the NFL. But I look at it from this standpoint from my own experiences, and these guys aren’t me. But I torn my ACL and LCL – the same injury that Patrick Mahomes has right now – and I wouldn’t have played in 2013. … Because I wasn’t back to myself yet. … I would advise them to not play next year so that when they come back in ’27, they can truly and fully be themselves, and it won’t knock off years from their careers.”

RGIII expects Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons return for 2026 season ‘because that’s how they’re wired’

On Monday, an MRI confirmed the 26-year-old Parsons suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a pass-rushing incident in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. Later that day, Parsons released an emotional statement pledging he’d “rise again.” Parsons is in his first season with the Packers following a preseason trade from the Dallas Cowboys and could be motivated to return as quickly as possible. Of course, Griffin is advising against that, even if he doesn’t expect either of the NFL superstars to heed his advice.

“I say that knowing very well, I’ve got sources pretty close to the situation there that Mahomes is all-in for Week 1. And we’ve seen Micah say he’s all-in for Week 1 as well. It’s because as players we are wired to have this gladiator mindset that we can overcome anything, and we’re not normal,” Griffin added. “But at the same time, I would advise them to sit out the following season because of when they got hurt. And then you can play for another 10-15 years once you’re fully back to health. Do I think that’s going to happen? No. I think they’re going to come back and play Week 1 because that’s how they’re wired, and the only people that can really protect them are the teams.”